Upcoming U.S. Mint medal offerings...
BackroadJunkie
Posts: 3,745 ✭✭✭✭✭
A question in the WWI thread jarred loose a couple of brain cells about the Mint's upcoming medal series on ASE blanks. I've mentioned it a couple of times in other threads, but should probably put it in it's own thread since the presidential series is supposed to start this year.
There are plans to strike generic, proof silver medals (on ASE planchets) for all the different armed service branches. "Generic" meaning they will not be tied to any anniversary or date. The Mint specifically said these will be part of the permanent medal offerings.
They are also planning on releasing the presidential medals in proof. So they will be striking more T.R., Hoover, Ike, etc. medals, but this time in proof, so it will keep the uncirc finish medals in the C&C sets unique. These are the same design as the current bronze presidential medals.
The silver medals are not replacing the bronze version(s), but will be an additional choice. Since these aren't regulated by law, all presidents, even those still alive, will get a silver version.
First up (this year) will be Washington and Adams, then four per year until all the prezzes get their medal. All of these new silver medals will become part of the permanent catalog.
Since both series will be offered forever, they will probably be dateless. The Mint usually advertises new medals on their website, but they generally aren't announced in the product schedule unless they're tied into another product and are somehow limited.
Comments
The need to do the spouses, too.
buying a medal is like throwing money out the window
Run Forest
there is only one mint offering this year that could be a winner, only if it has a lower mintage and price which will be offered in the summer
I'm in...
POST NUBILA PHOEBUS / AFTER CLOUDS, SUN
Love for Music / Collector of Dreck
I hate Mint medals as a general rule. Hmmm...that seems harsh. I like the look of them, but I never hold on to them because they are overproduced and generally hard to sell on the secondary market. HOWEVER, I'm wondering about slabbed versions of these.
Thoughts?
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.
Maybe if they issue an attractive U.S. Navy on an ASE planchet... Might get that one...Cheers, RickO
As a rule, I only purchase medals or medallions for their bullion value. To me, they are nothing but bullion rounds and treated as such.
Wow - you guys are harsh. Medals can be beautiful, historical, etc. etc. But, the limited collector base means that your pessimism is largely warranted.
To me, these proof silver Presidential medals are a mystery. Who wants them?. A few people will buy individual medals, but long term, what is the prognosis for this series? I say these "permanent" additions to the Mint's medal catalog will be relatively short-lived. I mean, the bronze versions aren't even always available.
If they did them as bullion rounds it might be fun, but who is going to collect a set of proof silver Presidential medals? I figure that market was probably covered by the Franklin Mint decades ago.
If only they could get them to the door in some cheaper way than sending them in cellophane -- which would be a crime.
I don't agree. Medals have been a core part of the Mint for over 200 years. They've had a permanent sales of bronze medals for over 150 years.
These won't be one-off, limited edition medals, but part of the permanent catalog. This is part of what the Mint does.
Pretty sure the idea came from the relative popularity of the TR, FDR and the 2015 C&C sets. I was very disappointed when the Mint flaked out and didn't include one with Reagan's. They didn't even include a bronze version of the medal.
As for availability, I wouldn't be surprised if they do keep up and keep these available. It's not like die production these days is as difficult as it used to be even 50 years ago, and ASE blanks are probably more common at the Mint than those half-pound bronze pucks. (Not to mention the actual production.) I have the entire Prez medal collection in 1 5/8, and I think some would look pretty darn good in silver proof.
BTW, when I was last at a mint store (albeit in 2000), I was amazed at the number of medals they had available for sale. Far more than what's in the online catalog. And even the online catalog has a surprising number of offerings that vary through the year.
I'd consider putting a set together if they market them at a reasonable price. (The 2016 American Liberty at $35 was reasonable. The 2017 American Liberty at $60 is stupidly overpriced.) The full 1 5/8" set looks pretty cool all together, but the strikes on most of those medals suck. A full set reworked in silver proof will probably look pretty impressive...
I think you missed my point. I love mint medals, but most issues, at least for the 3 inch versions, seem to sell on the secondary market for well under issue price. A few popular ones that are no longer made do well, but many do not.
As for the permanent catalog, as far as I know, many if not most of the bronze presidents have been out of stock for years. I don't think you can even buy a set of the small bronze ones like in the old days.
Time will tell if silver makes a difference, and although I expect them to look great, past experience is not reassuring for their long term prospects. I would be happy if that is not the case, and time will tell.
I might have some interest, but once again - the Mint is fragmenting the coin market even further and diluting the value of just about any Modern issue.
Of course, this is just the near term impact. You never really know what people will desire as collectors, later on. Like, in 3 or 4 decades.
I knew it would happen.
Well I will sign on for 2 of all the presidential proofs. The .999 bullion Coin is not an investment coin for sure... but I love my silver and look forward to this series... I guess for the next 10 years at 4 per year.
Aug 16th
I don't buy U.S. Mint products.
That is not true for many of the older ones. Just ask anyone who bought a nice bronze Libertas Americana back in the 1980s medal for from $1,000 to $2,000. Today they can have $12,000+. I could have bought a silver one for $5,000, but I didn't have the money in those days. Today they are worth over $100,000.
You would have made money on most any 19th century U.S. mint metal you bought in the 1980s. The finish is beautiful, and the mintages are consistently under 100 pieces for many varieties.